There
are those who teach, just commit to the church to be saved. Others teach, only
say a prayer or believe on Jesus. Salvation is more than just a prayer, believing,
or committing to a church. A true conversion (being born-again) requires that
you believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. You
must obey Acts 2:38-REPENT (turn from all willful sin), AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY
ONE OF YOU (by immersion). AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE PUT ON CHRIST-Gal 3:27. Repentance means to turn from your old ways, commit
to Jesus, obey the Gospel (ref Acts 5:32; Heb 5:9), and do the will of God-ref
Mt 7:21. You crucify your own will and do God’s will daily-ref Lk 9:23. Few
Christians have ever made this total commitment to Jesus. Many are churchgoers
and Word hearers, but they do not obey the Gospel. They are devoted Catholics,
Methodists, Baptists, or Charismatics who will die dedicated to their church,
but not to Jesus Christ. They are deceived. It may never occur to them they
are going to hell, until they are there. It may never enter their mind that
their religious leader may have mixed traditions of men with the Word of God
without realizing it.

Now
the question arises, can you lose salvation? Can you lose the Holy Spirit, once
you are saved? Many say salvation cannot be lost. A saved person could commit
murder, rape, or child abuse and still go to heaven. They would simply lose
the joy of their salvation.

4-DAVID
AND CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

They quote Scripture about David to support their tradition. Others believe
you can be saved, but if you lose your faith and return to your sinful ways,
you are lost. These also stand on Scripture. One has to be wrong. God’s Word
gives us the answer. Telling a person, once saved always saved, does not build
faith. Only God’s Word can build faith.The following verses are sometimes
used by those who say salvation can never be lost. David was saved. He committed
murder. He did not lose his salvation, but he did lose the joy of it.God promised David He would
not take His mercy away, even if he sinned, as He did take His mercy from Saul.
Saul lost his salvation. As we read, AND DAVID SAID UNTO NATHAN, I HAVE SINNED
AGAINST THE LORD. AND NATHAN SAID UNTO DAVID, THE LORD ALSO HATH PUT AWAY THY
SIN; THOU SHALT NOT DIE-2 Sam 12:13. NEVERTHELESS MY LOVING-KINDNESS WILL I
NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL-Ps 89:33. I WILL
GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID-Acts 13:34. It is written, I WILL NEVER LEAVE
THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE-Heb 13:5. The question arises, can we forsake God? The
answer is yes, and many people have. Jesus cannot divorce us, but we can divorce
Him.

5-FAITH
AND CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

It
is written, NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING-Jude 24. So we
ask, how does God keep us from falling? We stand BY FAITH-Ro 11:20. However,
SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH-1 Tim 4:1. HAVING DAMNATION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
CAST OFF THEIR FIRST FAITH-1 Tim 5:12. We are warned that, IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK,
MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM-Heb 10:38. God keeps you from falling
through your faith. If you cast off your faith or draw back, God will have no
pleasure in you. The Bible urges us, do not DRAW BACK (from faith)…UNTO PERDITION-Heb
10:38,39.

Jesus
tells us, FOR HIM HATH GOD THE FATHER SEALED-Jn 6:27. When we are saved, God
gives us His Spirit. Can we be unsealed? It is written, AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED,
YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR
INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION-Eph 1:13,14. Note,
THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE. "Earnest" or arrabon means
money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited, if the purchase was not completed.
It was thought to be a Phoenician word which was introduced into Greece. In
modern Greek, arrabona is an engagement ring. Regretfully, some modern
Bible versions have translated this word incorrectly, which has caused some
confusion.

The
Bible gives us the formula for completing a purchase. Jesus paid it completely
by His shed blood; however, we must hold on to our faith, for we stand by faith.
We must hold THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONFIDENCE STEDFAST UNTO THE END-Heb 3:14.
We enter into a contract (or covenant, or solemn agreement) when we receive
Jesus. Jesus is the Groom, and we are the bride. He gives us a pledge or token
of this contract, a ring, in a manner of speaking. He cannot break His contract
with us. He will never leave or forsake the contract. The price of the purchase
has been paid. Now, we receive an engagement ring (the Holy Spirit) as a deposit;
thus, we are sealed unto Jesus as His bride. During this period of being sealed,
temptations come against us to try to draw us away. We are tested to see if
our love for Jesus is real. Will we wait for our Bridegroom faithfully, no matter
what temptations come? Or will we stop waiting, and go off to serve another?
We have been bought for a price. Jesus died for us. Yet we can "take off
the ring," and choose to serve another. The Holy Spirit gives us the power
to stand against the enemy. He promises no temptation will come against us that
is more than we can bear. Our love and faith are being tested. If we hold firm
until He calls us home, we become His bride. If we fall away, the engagement
ring is forfeited. We cannot keep it, as the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that
we are His, and we are waiting faithfully in love. Many do forfeit the engagement
ring. They leave their first love and go to another. The other leads us to death,
the lake of fire.

It
is written, THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE, HAVING THIS SEAL, THE LORD
KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS-2 Tim 2:19. WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH
FAITH UNTO SALVATION-1 Pe 1:5. How does God keep us? How do we stand? It is
by faith. If we lose our faith, we are not standing sure, and are not kept by
the power of God. For, WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM-Heb 11:6.

We
are MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH-Eph 5:30. One may ask, "How can we
become separated, and not be members of His body?" The answer, again, is
given by God’s Word. THOU STANDEST BY FAITH. If we depart from faith, we depart
from being members of His body.

9-NEITHER
DEATH NOR LIFE SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD: CAN
SALVATION BE LOST?

Paul
tells us, FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR
PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT,
NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE
OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD-Ro 8:38,39. This verse seems to support
the position, one may not lose salvation. However, the verse never says we
cannot separate ourselves from God. No powers can separate us, but we can choose
to walk away. During the Tribulation, many will receive Jesus, but they will
be tempted with taking the mark or starving to death, as they cannot buy or
sell. They will be tempted to worship the image or be beheaded. Many born-again
Christians will give in and take the mark and worship the image. These will
go to hell. Satan cannot force you to turn from God. He tempts you, as he tempted
Eve. No one forced Eve to eat of the tree. She became deceived and chose to
disobey God. She died.

Some
say this next verse shows that we cannot lose salvation. Jesus says, MY SHEEP
HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL
LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY
HAND-Jn 10:27-29. Born-again Christians will not perish, as long as they follow
Jesus. No man can force them to depart from Jesus. However, many do depart of
their own free will. Many Christians hear His voice, but they do not continue
to follow Jesus till the end. God knows who will, by His foreknowledge. You
and I do not.

It
is written, WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION,
OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD?-Ro
8:35. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; except ourselves.

The
Bible cautions us, GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED
UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION-Eph 4:30. Some say this shows we cannot fall. We
are warned, however, not to grieve the Spirit with sin, lest the "earnest"
of the Spirit be removed.

Another
Scripture sometimes used by those who do not believe salvation can be lost is,
IN THE DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I SUCCORED THEE-2 Cor 6:2. We are succored (helped-NIV)
(or given timely aid in distress) with the earnest of our inheritance. The Bible
also says, HAVING PREDESTINATED US-Eph 1:5. Some say this means we cannot lose
salvation. But it is also written, ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD-1 Pe
1:2. God knows by His foreknowledge, if we will hold firm; therefore, He PREDESTINATED
US. This is not a guarantee, however, that you cannot lose salvation.

The
verses given, thus far, are the main ones people use to prove salvation cannot
be lost. However, when viewed in light of the rest of God’s Word, none of these
verses show that we cannot depart from Christ by going into total, willful
sin and rebellion against God, or by totally losing our faith; thus, losing
our salvation.

God
tells us, WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS TURNETH FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jesus, his faith),
AND COMMITTETH INIQUITY, HE SHALL EVEN DIE THEREBY (go to hell). BUT IF THE
WICKED TURN FROM HIS WICKEDNESS (repents), AND DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT,
HE SHALL LIVE THEREBY-Ezek 33:18,19. These people thought they could not lose
salvation. God seems to be displeased that they thought, once saved, always
saved. He speaks through Ezekiel with words that seem to explode: (17)-THY PEOPLE
SAY, THE WAY OF THE LORD IS NOT EQUAL: BUT AS FOR THEM, THEIR WAY IS NOT EQUAL.
These words are for every person who believes once saved, always saved. The
way of God, once you surrender to Jesus, is all your sins are erased. They are
not remembered. But, if you turn back to sin (turn from your faith), all your
good deeds are equally not remembered. God’s ways are totally just. When the
RIGHTEOUS MAN DOTH TURN FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY...HE SHALL
DIE IN HIS SIN, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HE HATH DONE SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED-Ezek
3:20. This includes baptism. Jesus said, regarding baptism, THUS IT BECOMETH
US TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS-Mt 3:15. Once you are saved, if you fall away,
then you need to repent and be re-baptized.

Paul
said, I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: LEST THAT BY ANY MEANS,
WHEN I HAVE PREACHED TO OTHERS, I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY-1 Cor 9:27. Paul
knew we could lose salvation as also exemplified in the following. BEHOLD THEREFORE
THE GOODNESS…OF GOD…IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALT
BE CUT OFF (if you do not continue in faith and obeying the Gospel, you shall
be cut off). AND THEY ALSO, IF THEY ABIDE NOT STILL IN UNBELIEF, SHALL BE GRAFTED
IN: FOR GOD IS ABLE TO GRAFT THEM IN AGAIN-Ro 11:22,23. They can be saved, but
fall into unbelief and lose salvation. However, if they repent and believe again,
God can save them again (a second time).

Jesus
tells us, THE FOOLISH SAID UNTO THE WISE, GIVE US OF YOUR OIL; FOR OUR LAMPS
ARE GONE OUT-Mt 25:8. Their light was burning. They were saved. Then, their
light went out. They once had oil (the Holy Spirit), but now their lamps were
quenched.

Moses
knew you could lose salvation. He besought God saying, YET NOW, IF THOU WILT,
FORGIVE THEIR SIN; AND IF NOT, BLOT ME, I PRAY THEE, OUT OF THY BOOK WHICH THOU
HAST WRITTEN. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHOSOEVER HATH SINNED AGAINST ME,
HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK-Ex 32:32,33. David knew you could lose salvation.
He prayed, LET THEM BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING-Ps 69:28. If your
name is in the book of life, you are saved. If your name is blotted out, you
lose your salvation.

Saul
lost his salvation. Samuel said to him, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU ASK OF ME,
SEEING THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, AND IS BECOME THINE ENEMY? BECAUSE THOU
OBEYEDST NOT THE VOICE OF THE LORD-1 Sam 28:16,18. He was saved, but he refused
to obey God’s Word. Is this you?

YE
ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH (saved): BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS SAVOR (that
distinctive quality which sets apart or makes a difference between a saved person
and an unsaved person)…IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING-Mt 5:13.

I
AM THE TRUE VINE...EVERY BRANCH IN ME (every saved person in Christ Jesus) THAT
BEARETH NOT FRUIT (will not serve Jesus or do the will of God) HE TAKETH AWAY...AND
CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE-Jn 15:1,2,6.

It
is written, YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE-Gal 5:4. There are those who say this does
not mean what it says. They interpret it to mean that the people are fallen
away from the message of grace. God will justly recompense to all who misuse
the Word. We are SAVED THROUGH FAITH-Eph 2:8. Now, if you turn from your faith
(seek to be justified by circumcision, thus a debtor to the Law), you are not
standing by faith. You are fallen from grace. You lost your salvation.

Jesus
saith, I HAVE SOMEWHAT AGAINST THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST LEFT THY FIRST LOVE.
REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM WHENCE THOU ART FALLEN, AND REPENT…OR ELSE I WILL COME
UNTO THEE QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK OUT OF HIS PLACE, EXCEPT
THOU REPENT-Rev 2:4,5. Sinner, if you are fallen—repent quickly—before your
name is removed from the book.

30-SAVED,
IF HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD, OTHERWISE BELIEVED IN VAIN: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

It
is written, BY THIS GOSPEL YOU ARE SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD… OTHERWISE
YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN-1 Cor 15:2 NIV. You may be saved, but if you turn
from the Word (from Jesus), it is all for nothing. You have believed in vain.

Over
and over, the Bible warns us that once we are saved we need to be careful, take
heed, examine ourselves, be sure we do not fall back into unbelief and return
to sin. You are free. You have liberty. Nevertheless, if once you are saved,
you go back into unbelief, willful sin, or refuse to do the will of God—and
do not repent: you will perish from the way, become shipwreck, and be cast into
the fire.

Others, GO FORTH (they begin serving God), but CARES…RICHES…PLEASURES, CHOKE
THE WORD-Lk 8:13-15. They bring no fruit to perfection. They are cut off and
thrown into the fire, even though they were saved.Only the people who IN AN HONEST
AND GOOD HEART, HAVING HEARD THE WORD KEEP IT, AND BRING FORTH FRUIT WITH PATIENCE,
go (to heaven)-Lk 8:15. As it is written, THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH-ref Heb 11:13.

Paul
asks, ARE YE SO FOOLISH? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT (these are saved, they have
the Spirit of God), ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH? HAVE YE SUFFERED SO
MANY THINGS IN VAIN?-Gal 3:3,4. He is asking them if they have suffered for
Jesus in vain. He is cautioning them that, although they have suffered for Jesus,
they can still be rejected and go to hell.

It
is written, AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, FOR WHOM
CHRIST DIED?-1 Cor 8:11.

36-DOG
TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN, PIG THAT WAS WASHED TO HER MIRE: CAN
SALVATION BE LOST?

Peter
also cautions Christians, that, IF AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTIONS OF
THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST (they are
saved), THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME (they return to their
evil ways), THE LATTER END IS WORSE WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING. FOR IT HAD
BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (it had been
better not to have known Jesus), THAN, AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN IT (after they
are saved), TO TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT DELIVERED UNTO THEM (to turn from
Jesus, from the Word). BUT IT IS HAPPENED UNTO THEM ACCORDING TO THE TRUE PROVERB,
THE DOG IS TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN; AND THE SOW THAT WAS WASHED (a person
is clean or washed by the blood of Jesus) TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MIRE-2 Pe
2:20-22.

If
your name is in the book of life, most would agree you are saved. However, if
ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL
TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE (this person will lose salvation)-Rev
22:19.

God’s
Word gives a warning to all that teach "once saved, always saved"
and do not acknowledge that a person can indeed turn from and forsake the Lord
and perish. For they are, in effect, saying, THE WAY OF THE LORD IS NOT EQUAL:
(note the Lord’s response to them) BUT AS FOR THEM, THEIR WAY IS NOT EQUAL-Ezek
33:17.

There
is no worry about losing salvation to those who abide in the will of God.

You
are a sinner. Jesus saves you through your faith. If you turn from your faith,
from God’s will, you are worse off than when you began; however, you can repent
again and return. God’s ways are equal.